CHRISTIAN LIVING AMONG OUTSIDERS
TITUS 3
1 Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities,

• Paul’s words can be hard to understand and even embrace, especially for those who live in democratic nations.
• His point is not that we ought to blindly follow the governing authorities even if they lead us into error.
• But rather believers ought to recognize their position with humility and be subject to their implementation of laws.
• He doesn’t want believers to have a reputation for illegal activities.
• Christianity is not meant to be a movement built on force and the overthrow of governments.
• Instead, it is designed to permeate and transcend every circumstance.
• The Gospel does not call for violent revolutionaries but rather peaceful ambassadors of God’ grace.

to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people.

• Christians were often looked on with suspicion in the Roman Empire because their conduct was so different, and they met in private meetings for worship (see 1 Peter 2:11–25; 3:13–4:5).[1]
• The Greek word used here, blasphēmeō, describes speaking against someone with the purpose of harming his or her reputation.
• Believers will ruin their own reputation if they seek to ruin the reputation of others.[2]
• This is a hard bit of instruction, but government officials, employers, and any other persons of authority should be the recipients of our every good work.[3]
• Paul encourages Christians to love and respect the inherent value within all people.
• Christians are not to stir up discontent with people but rather to love and express the fruit of Christ in a hurting world.
• God has consideration for all people and therefore wants His children to share the same love.

3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.

• Paul wanted this reality to encourage humility and compassion in believers towards others.
• As ugly as this world is we must remember that we too were once enslaved to the world system.
• But when we believed we were set free from sin.
• We can now see the errors of the world system in a way that we could not when we were spiritually dead.
• Now that believers are no longer enslaved, we can live free from the constraints of sin.
• Believers are often tempted to look down their noses at unbelievers—forgetting that they too were once lost.[4]

4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love for mankind appeared, 5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

• The love of God appeared in Jesus.
• The two are one and the same.
• Jesus is the love of God made flesh.
• This love of God was expressed perfectly in Christ’s sacrificial work for salvation.
• This salvation is not based on our deeds but the regeneration of the Holy Spirit.
• For Paul, regeneration occurs at faith in Jesus not prior to it.
• Faith, therefore, does not arise because of regeneration but precedes it.

6 He poured out his Spirit on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

• Justification is often viewed as a position for Christians that is somehow disconnected from the fact of regeneration.
• In other words, we are justified even though we aren’t truly righteous to the core.
• However, such a concept is missing from Pauline theology.
• Justification is synonymous with the inner righteousness of regeneration.
• Justification is the gracious act of God whereby He declares a believing sinner righteous because of the finished work of Christ on the cross.
• God puts to our account the righteousness of His Son, so that we can be condemned no more.
• Not only does He forget our sins, but He forgets that we were even sinners![5]
• This is the message that Paul wanted the believers to be adamant about in the midst of their ministry to the world.

8 This saying is trustworthy. I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone.

• Paul connects the message of regeneration to engaging in good works.
• The good works flow out of our new nature.
• These good deeds impact the world and hopefully win people over to the Gospel.

9 But avoid foolish debates, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the law, because they are unprofitable and worthless.

• Few things drive away seekers like church infighting.
• Satan loves to encourage selfish strife and division among church members.[6]
• Paul is blatant in his insistence that disputes about the law are worthless.
• This is because of Paul’s overall perspective on the differences between the Old Covenant and New Covenant but also because he was writing to Greeks, non-Jews, who never had the law.
• Therefore, arguing about the law was pointless for them.
• These arguments were also pointless because all who believe in Jesus are participating in a New Covenant, not the Old Covenant.
• Such admonition would be encouraging for the Greek believers as they combatted the false teachers who were mixing law and Gospel.

10 Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning. 11 For you know that such a person has gone astray and is sinning; he is self-condemned.

• Notice that Paul believed the false teachers to be condemned, not by God, but buy their own performance under the law.
• The law condemns all people because it can be kept by nobody.
• God, however, is not condemning.
• He wants to save all people through Christ.

 
FINAL INSTRUCTIONS AND CLOSING
12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me in Nicopolis, because I have decided to spend the winter there.

• We know nothing about Artemas; Tychicus we met in Acts 20:4.
• He was with Paul in his first Roman imprisonment and carried the epistles from Paul to the Ephesians (Eph. 6:21), the Colossians (Col. 4:7–8), and to Philemon (cf. Col. 4:7–9 with Phile. 10).[7]
• Map of Nicopolis.

13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey, so that they will lack nothing.

• It is possible that Zenas and Apollos (see Acts 18:24ff) carried this letter to Titus.
• Paul had sent them on a mission and Titus was to aid them all he could.[8]

14 Let our people learn to devote themselves to good works for pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

• Paul reminded Titus of the main theme of the letter: Insist that God’s people devote them to good works for pressing needs…[9]
• For the Christian productiveness is fun because it arises out of our new natures.
• We do not produce good works to maintain or earn the righteousness which only comes from the regeneration of God.[10]

15 All those who are with me send you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.[11]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 267). Victor Books.
[2] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Tt 3:2). Lexham Press.
[3] Evans, T. (2019). The Tony Evans Study Bible (p. 1447). Holman Bible.
[4] Evans, T. (2019). The Tony Evans Study Bible (pp. 1447–1448). Holman Bible.
[5] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 267–268). Victor Books.
[6] Evans, T. (2019). The Tony Evans Study Bible (p. 1448). Holman Bible.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 268). Victor Books.
[8] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 268). Victor Books.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 268). Victor Books.
[10] Farley, Andrew. www.BibleCommentary.com. Titus 2.
[11] Christian Standard Bible (Tt 3:1–15). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

63 AD

• Timothy sends word to Paul in Colosse that the Ephesian church is being ravaged by false teachers.
• “There is also a problem with respect to how the widows are being cared for in the church.
• Some of the widows have adopted the heresy, and others have family members who are able to care for them. Still worse, some of the younger widows who decided not to remarry are acting promiscuously.

 
1 TIMOTHY 5
1 Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters with all purity.

• Much of what Paul advised here involved action based on sensible maturity.[1]
• Timothy was obviously much younger than many in the church at that time.
• Don’t be afraid to have a bold conversation with older men. Be honest and sensitive to them.
• Be kind in your conversations.
• Speak with respect to others.
• Speak without emotion.
• Even a child is wise in how they speak to their parents. When and how...

 
THE SUPPORT OF WIDOWS
3 Support widows who are genuinely in need.

• A woman whose husband has died and who has no male relative (e.g., a father, brother or son) to support her.[2]
• The other qualifier is one who displayed fruit of the Spirit rather than selfish pleasures.
• God’s special care for the widows is a recurring theme in Scripture (Deut., Ps., Is., & Mal.).
• It was only right that the local church show compassion to these women who were in need.[3]

4 But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn to practice godliness toward their own family first and to repay their parents, for this pleases God.

1. This is a Spirit-led act
2. This is repayment for your own raising
3. This pleases God
4. This has more to do with leaving a legacy

5 The widow who is truly in need and left all alone has put her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers; 6 however, she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.

• It is not so much about specific disciplines as much as it is living out of their true identity.
• Those living by the Spirit vs those living by their flesh.
• This puts the believer/leader in judgment over people.
• Self-indulgent = spiritually dead.

7 Command this also, so that they will be above reproach.

• A good public reputation

8 But if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

• The sense of urgent importance in Paul’s words suggests that widows were causing some of the problems in Ephesus.[4]
• Is there anything worse than an unbeliever?
• Yes! Those who refuse to provide for their family.
• Even unbelievers support their family members.
• This is still within the guidelines of walking by the Spirit or walking in the flesh.
• There is both spiritual provision as well as financial provision.

9 No widow is to be enrolled on the list for support unless she is at least sixty years old, has been the wife of one husband, 10 and is well known for good works—that is, if she has brought up children, shown hospitality, washed the saints’ feet, helped the afflicted, and devoted herself to every good work.

• These are a result of the fruit of the Spirit.
• Older women that probably would not remarry and were recognized as serving in the church.
• Marriage statement was the same one associated with elders and deacons in chapter 3.

11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when they are drawn away from Christ by desire, they want to marry 12 and will therefore receive condemnation because they have renounced their original pledge.

• Original pledge – First love being Jesus.
• They are pursuing sensual desires more than spiritual desires. (flesh vs spirit).

13 At the same time, they also learn to be idle, going from house to house; they are not only idle, but are also gossips and busybodies, saying things they shouldn’t say.

• Idleness vs serving in the church.
• Entitlement – expectations of the church.

14 Therefore, I want younger women to marry, have children, manage their households, and give the adversary no opportunity to accuse us. 15 For some have already turned away to follow Satan. 16 If any believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it can help widows in genuine need.

• Some who had pledged a commitment to widowhood were not living as the true widow of vv. 5, 9–10.
• They had abandoned their trust in God.[5]
• “accuse us” – The church will be judged by society.
• Judgement many times comes falsely.
• Most the time out of guilt.
• Make the other person look just as bad or worse than you.

 

• Speak with Kim Schilling, Meg Patton & Wanda Pontious.

 
HONORING THE ELDERS
17 The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

• Elders were a permanent feature of Jewish synagogues. It would have been natural for churches to adopt this office into their congregational government.[6]
• Paul’s practice was to use elders in organizing the churches he founded, not only in Jewish regions but also in Gentile territory (e.g., Acts 14:23).
• Jews would easily have understood this system of organization.
• Gentiles, who knew that local governments were controlled by officials who resembled elders, would not find Paul’s system strange or totally unacceptable.[7]

18 For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain, and, The worker is worthy of his wages.

• Matthew 10:10 – ”Don’t take a traveling bag for the road, or an extra shirt, sandals, or a staff, for the worker is worthy of his food.”[8]

19 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses.

• Hearsay… not good…
• Facebook… not good…
• One person’s testimony may be skewed by a bad experience.
• Know what is actually being taught

20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid.

• This is still in reference to “elders” and especially if they are in a teaching role.
• Those who continue to sin… a chance for correction and repentance?

21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.

• You put the Gospel in jeopardy with society if you waiver on the Truth.

22 Don’t be too quick to appoint, anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

• Medicinal purposes

24 Some people’s sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but the sins of others surface later. 25 Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden. [9]

• Genuine character, like cream, always rises to the top.
• These words represent a warning against hasty rejection.[10]

 
Paul giving clarity to Timothy in organization, leadership, procedures and house cleaning.

[1] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 145). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (1 Ti 5:3). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 229). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 148). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[5] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, pp. 152–153). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[6] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, pp. 154–155). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[7] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 155). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[8] Christian Standard Bible (Mt 10:10). (2020). Holman Bible Publisers.
[9] Christian Standard Bible (1 Ti 5). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[10] Lea, T. D., & Griffin, H. P. (1992). 1, 2 Timothy, Titus (Vol. 34, p. 159). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

• Paul has been explaining what walking by the Spirit looks like by the view of the world.
• There is a significant difference between the way the redeemed and the unredeemed act.

LIGHT VERSUS DARKNESS
EPHESIANS 5:6-21
6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things.

• "Empty" = foolish or futile
• What is Paul referring to here? You have to look at the end result and use your filter of 66 books.
• "disobedient" - Those who could care less about God and want nothing to do with Him.
• God's wrath is coming... it's going to happen!
• The Spirit of Truth allows the believer to steer clear of such emptiness as long as he remains alert.

7 Therefore, do not become their partners.

• There is no reason under any circumstance for a believer to participate in the activities of those who disregard truth and wallow in worldly stuff.
• "But..." No buts about it.

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light--

• "You were once darkness" –
• Ephesians 2:1-3 - And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.[1]
• We were born with an Adamic nature that controlled our person and behavior.
• "Now you are light in the Lord" - 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come![2]
• Walk as children of light - Know who you are.
• Habitually... not an on-again, off-again manner but continuing to yield to the life of Jesus in us.
• This is not only from sin but from religion (rules and regulations).

9 for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth--

• In reference to those who are in the light
• If you choose to walk by the Spirit then a certain fruit will naturally be produced...
• “It is good to smell ya…” your aroma.
• Fruit being goodness, righteousness and truth.
• "Goodness" - profitable, generous, beneficial, upright or virtuous.
• You profit and benefit others. You are generous to others
• 1 Thessalonians 5:15 - See to it that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.[3]
• "Righteousness" - The believer's right standing with God as well as your desire to walk in Spirit.
• "Truth" - Only believers are capable of walking in Truth (God's Truth).
• You forfeit much in life by not knowing and pursuing the Truth in God's Word.

 

• Tozer - "Many church groups have perished from too much organization, even as others from too little. Wise church leaders will watch out for both extremes. A man may die as a result of having extremely low blood pressure as certainly as from having too high, and it matters little which takes him off. He is equally dead either way.

The important thing in church organization is to discover the scriptural balance between two extremes and avoid both!
It is painful to see a happy group of Christians, born in simplicity and held together by the bonds of heavenly love, slowly lose their simple character, begin to try to regulate every sweet impulse of the Spirit and slowly die from within.
Yet that is the direction almost all Christian denominations have taken throughout history, and in spite of the warnings set out by the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures of truth it is the direction almost all church groups are taking today.
Churches and societies founded by saintly men with courage, faith and sanctified imagination appear unable to propagate themselves on the same spiritual level beyond one or two generations. In all our fallen life, there is a strong gravitational pull toward complexity and away from things simple and real. There seems to be a kind of sad inevitability back of our morbid urge toward spiritual suicide!"

• The Gospel was made simple and meant to stay simple.
• There is a balance of knowing what you have and intellectualizing what you have.

10 testing what is pleasing to the Lord.

• "discerning" - trying to learn or even proving.
• As believers, we figure this thing out and prove it to others as a way of life rather than as a duty or obligation.
• I personally believe it is more general than specific.
• It is not about the specific behavioral things we do... but it is simply walking by the Spirit that pleases the Lord.

11 Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.

• "participate" - fellowship or partake with others
• "expose" - means to reprove. This could be an open rebuke.
• But, also choosing not to participate leads to conviction.
• Sometimes, the best exposure is by love actions rather than love words.

12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret.

• Talking about nonbeliever's behavior can even be harmful to the believer.‎
• Weirsbe - "The motto today seems to be, “Tell it like it is!” And yet that can be a dangerous policy when it comes to exposing the filthy things of darkness, lest we unconsciously advertise and promote sin."

13 Everything exposed by the light is made visible,

• Truth for the believer not only allows them to detect error but to also know the motive behind the error.
• Symptoms vs root cause.

14 for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said:
Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.

• "Sleeper" - unredeemed man
• Christ becomes the light in you.

CONSISTENCY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk—not as unwise people but as wise--

• Walk carelessly or carefully
• Wisdom - the ability to view life from God's perspective.
• Proverbs 3:13-15 - Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding,
• for she is more profitable than silver,

and her revenue is better than gold.

• She is more precious than jewels;

nothing you desire can equal her.[4]

• ‎Why would we want to go back to living like fools? This is what it looked like:
• ‎Titus 3:3 - For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another. [5]

16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil.

• "making the most" - make valuable, something treasured and remembered... memorable experiences.
• Pick a year... What do you consciously remember from that year?
• Doug & Spencer Shrieve – Slides
• Mike Zastrow - Slides
• "Time" - season or opportunity... being proper stewards.
• Wisdom allows its possessors to go to the root of the problem rather than waste precious time on surface issues.
• Choosing the excellent over the good... is difficult... but wise.
• "the days are evil" For Paul, this meant that Roman persecution was on the way.
• For the Church at Ephesus - Rev 2:4 tells us that they lost their first love.
• History tells us that they ceased to exist sometime during the 2nd century.

17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

• One of the greatest assets of being wise is to understand the "will of God".
• As you grow in wisdom... so grows your understanding of God's will. It becomes more general than specific.
• Know God (study the Word) - know His will.
• ‎-  He reveals His plan through His Word (Col. 1:9–10), His Spirit in our hearts (Col. 3:15), and the working of circumstances (Rom. 8:28).
• If you seek wisdom from wise counsel... there is only one way to evaluate that truth... It filters through all 66 books.
• It is valuable to know the Word.
• God's will is that we walk in the Spirit... being sanctified and holy.

18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:

• "reckless actions" - dissipation, debauchery, ruin your life, cheapens life, wastefulness. You are wasting your time.
• Wine in Paul's day was used to stimulate worship.
• Neither the "drunk" or the "Spirit-filled" is ashamed to express himself.
• Paul contrasts drunkenness with being filled with the Spirit.
• "be filled" - to influence fully, to possess fully
• This is the same list of things he wrote to the church at Colossae (Col 3:16-22) but he begins with "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you."
• You were made holy... but you choose to walk in holiness. Holy means “to be separated”. You can't experience what you have if you don't separate yourself from the world in your behavior.

 

• Tozer - "Christian leaders can help to bring about revival by refusing to pander to the carnal tastes of the religious public and going on a holy crusade for a purified church. If leaders have the courage to follow Christ all the way, they can be a powerful instrument of the Holy Ghost to bring about real revival.…

If enough influential Christians will rethink this whole thing and turn to the New Testament for guidance, there may yet come a new birth of revival among us. These leaders must see that the believer’s true ambition should not be success but saintliness. They must see that they are not called to imitate the world, but to renounce it, and that publicity is no substitute for the power of the Holy Ghost."
19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord,

• Paul stated that there are three evidences of the fullness of the Spirit in the life of the believer: he is joyful (Eph. 5:19), thankful (Eph. 5:20), and submissive (Eph. 5:21–33).
• It is impossible to possess the fruit of the Spirit and refrain from singing... at least inwardly.

20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

• Being filled with the Spirit is the only way we are able to "always" give thanks regardless of the circumstance.
• Why give thanks to Lord Jesus Christ?
• Because it was through Him that we have every spiritual blessing. We are a part of His family.

21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.[6]

• The Spirit only fills those who desire to understand, walk in, and apply the principle of submission.
• God ordained submission for the protection of the church, family and society in general. ‎
• ‎Submission has nothing to do with the order of authority, but rather governs the operation of authority, how it is given and how it is received.
• Jesus submitted to the cross. Did He lose His authority in doing so? Absolutely not!
• A husband can submit to his wife without losing His authority.
• Understanding "submission" still allows you to view each believer as equal.
• Galatians 3:28 - There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.[7]

[1] Christian Standard Bible (Eph 2:1–3). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Christian Standard Bible (2 Co 5:17). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (1 Th 5:15). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Pr 3:13–15). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Tt 3:3). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Christian Standard Bible (Eph 5:6–21). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[7] Christian Standard Bible (Ga 3:28). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

• Moving from Biblical/Historical Truth to Application
• Declaring and defending the Word vs demonstrating the Word in your life.
• We must keep in mind that the pagan religions of Paul’s day said little or nothing about personal morality.
• A worshiper could bow before an idol, put his offering on the altar, and go back to live the same old life of sin.
• What a person believed had no direct relationship with how he behaved, and no one would condemn a person for his behavior.[1]
• What Paul wanted believers to connect with is understanding your connection with Jesus greatly impacts what you “do” in life.
• Paul turned his thoughts to a more positive aspect of Christian living in this section of Scripture.
• The foolish attempts at sanctification found in 2:20–23 often entrap Christian people.
• This is chasing agendas.
• The real issue is the outlook found in 3:1–4.
• Here Paul explained the nature of the Christian’s higher calling (3:1–2) and the reasons to seek this higher calling (3:3–4).
• Although this section focuses on the Christian’s new values, clearly these values are rooted in conversion.
• Conversion includes a radical change of mind which produces the desire for separation from the world.[2]

THE LIFE OF THE NEW MAN
COLOSSIANS 3
1 So if you have been raised with Christ,

• Our exalted position in Christ is not a hypothetical thing, or a goal for which we strive.
• It is an accomplished fact.[3]

seek the things above,

• 1) Set your heart on things above (moral)

where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

• The right hand represents power and position of privilege.
• Hebrews 10:12-14 - But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God., 13 He is now waiting until his enemies are made his footstool. 14 For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are sanctified.[4]

2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

• 2) Set your mind on things above (mental)
• Jesus not only died for our sinful nature, but he died so that the power of sin could be conquered.

3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

• This is Romans 6-8
• Jesus is not peripheral to life; He is life.
• He imparts God’s life, and He is the center around which life should be oriented.[5]

4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

• Eternal life wasn’t some separate gift I received.
• I received a life in Christ… which is eternal.
• What is your life? (baseball, Colts, sports, cars, work/business, kids, your spouse, your knowledge, clothing/shopping, food, travel)
• We can talk all day about these things… but just let me talk about Jesus… that is real life.
• I can go to a ballgame wearing the opponent’s jersey… in Chicago… the southside… and not one person ridicules me or condemn me for being the enemy.
• In fact, they actually talk to me and are friendly.
• The glory of Christ will captivate the minds of unbelievers as well as believers.

5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature body: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry.

• It is not your nature… but actions of your flesh.
• In the first list of vices, Paul identified five sins which relate to personal actions.
• Four of them consistently refer elsewhere to sexual sins, to which he added a fifth, covetousness.
• The individual who commits them thinks more of himself than he does of others.
• For Paul, sexual sin harmed the individual himself—it was a sin against one’s own body (1 Cor 6:18);
• it ruins relationships;
• it contributes to autonomy—the anti-God spirit;
• and it represents a lack of self-control.
• These all characterize the old self.[6]
• Paul states the obvious.
• Paul has already declared that we have been given the power.
• No matter how deep we are into our bad choices, we have the power to make excellent choices.

6 Because of these, God’s wrath is coming upon the disobedient, 7 and you once walked in these things when you were living in them.

• Paul is referring to life without Christ but now, they are in Christ.
• A behavior was established (in the body/flesh) and patterns occurred.
• Now you have a new nature but former behavior patterns still exist.
• As you are learning about how you have already been sanctified, your behaviors are being sanctified.
• Your behaviors are changing and lining up more with who you are as a new creation.

8 But now, put away all the following: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another,

• A lie is any misrepresentation of the truth, even if the words are accurate.[7]
• Several scholars point out that moralists commonly used lists of fives to identify their moral concerns.[8]

since you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self.

• “old self” – sinful nature
• “new self” – new nature/creation

You are being renewed in knowledge according to the image of your Creator.

• Man was created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26–27).
• This involves man’s personality (intellect, emotion, will) and man’s spirituality (he is more than a body).
• When man sinned, this image of God was marred and ruined.
• Adam’s children were born in the image of their father (Gen. 5:1, 3).[9]
• Maturing in what you know, from the image of Adam to the image of God.
• You have already been made in the image of God from the image of Adam.

11 In Christ there is not Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, (a people group from Central Asia, north of the Black Sea.[10] Considered to be the lowest barbarians of all.) slave and free; but Christ is all and in all.
 
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive. 14 Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 And let the peace of Christ, to which you were also called in one body, rule your hearts. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

• Admonishing has the element of strong encouragement. It is generally practical and moral, rather than abstract or theological.[11]

17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.[12]

• Sometimes you have to remind others about who they truly are
• In context of this letter to the beloved at Colosse, Paul is reminding the believers they have two choices: 1) walk by your flesh or 2) walk by your Spirit.
• Sometimes you have to verbally remind people of who they are in Christ and what it looks like to walk as a new creation.
• I believe it is the Spirit's responsibility to teach us and cause us to walk by the Spirit.
• But many times the Spirit will use the spiritually mature to vocalize the difference of flesh and Spirit.

Panera, lunch, togetherness… We don’t intentionally study the Word, but the Word naturally is discussed in our conversations.

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 133). Victor Books.
[2] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Vol. 32, p. 279). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Heb 10:12–14). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Col 3:4). Lexham Press.
[6] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Vol. 32, pp. 291–292). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 136). Victor Books.
[8] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Vol. 32, p. 288). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 136). Victor Books.
[10] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[11] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (Vol. 32, p. 304). Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[12] Christian Standard Bible (Col 3:1–17). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

COLOSSIANS 2
12 when you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.

• It is illustrative of resurrection, indicating the end of the old life and the start of a new life in Christ.
• Baptism is the outward sign of inward grace.
• When someone dies, the next step is burial, and similarly, baptism is the next and essential step for converts.
• The figurative meaning is “to be identified with.” For example, the Jewish nation was “baptized unto Moses” when it went through the Red Sea (1 Cor. 10:1–2).
• This identification means that whatever happened to Christ also happened to us.
• When He died, we died with Him.
• When He was buried, we were buried.
• When He arose again, we arose with Him—and we left the grave clothes of the old life behind (Col. 3:1–14).
• It was the power of God that changed us, not the power of water.[1]

13 And when you were dead in trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses.

• Paul refers to life prior to faith and baptism, when we lived without the control and empowerment of God.[2]

14 He erased the certificate of debt, with its obligations, that was against us and opposed to us, and has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and disgraced them publicly; he triumphed over them in him.

• Satan and his forces thought victory was theirs, but Jesus turned the tables on them and stripped them of their power to accuse and to control.[3]
• This new life came when God forgave us all our sins for He canceled the written code.
• Before God’s written Law, His “written code,” people stood condemned (cf. Rom. 3:19), so it worked against them and opposed them.
• Since people cannot keep the Law, it is like a bill of indebtedness.
• An invoice or a document telling us we owe something to God.[4]
• So people, unable to pay the debt, are criminals.[5]
• But in Christ the Law is fulfilled (Rom. 8:2) and done away with (Gal. 3:25; Heb. 7:12).
• Legalism assumes a contractual relationship whereby in one’s thoughts God can be bought by human effort.[6]
• Legalism is wrong because believers are dead to the Law, in Christ.
• Jesus not only took our sins to the cross (1 Peter 2:24), but He also took the Law to the cross and nailed it there, forever out of the way.[7]
• He fulfilled its demands in His life and by His death, and Christians are in Him.[8]
• The law is silenced because Christ has died as a substitute for sinners.
• We “are not under the Law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:14).[9]
• God, through Christ, has forgiven our sins and ends the legal case against us.[10]
• CASE CLOSED!

16 Therefore, don’t let anyone judge you in regard to food and drink or in the matter of a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day.

• Some members of the congregation were critical and dominating. Paul addressed this first because of the persuasive power of these attitudes.[11]
• This warning exposes the danger of the legalism of the gnostic teachers in Colossae.[12]
• At Colossae the Jewish nature of the philosophy predominated. It seems, therefore, that the question dealt with matters of Jewish law, that is, the eating of clean and unclean meats as forbidden or condoned in the Old Testament.[13]
• Their religion was tied to the calendar.
• “judge” - “to determine value.”
• Don’t let anyone determine your values for you by what they are saying about you or to you.
• Christ alone has already determined your personal value which allows you to live in freedom.
• The flesh is weak when it comes to doing spiritual things (Matt. 26:41), but it is very strong when it comes to practicing religious rules and regulations.[14]

17 These are a shadow of what was to come; the substance is Christ.

• A shadow is less significant than the object which causes it.
• A shadow is temporary, lasting until the substance arrives in view.
• A shadow is inferior in that it imperfectly resembles the object.
• No one prefers the shadow to the substance.[15]
• The believing Gentiles in Colossae never were under the Law of Moses since that Law was given only to Israel (Rom. 9:4). It seems strange that, now that they were Christians, they would want to submit themselves to Jewish legalism![16]
• The false teachers in Colossae were claiming a “deeper spiritual life” for all who would practice the Law.[17]

18 Let no one condemn you by delighting in ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated by empty notions of their unspiritual mind.

• “Let no one disqualify you.” – Johnny Football sat out a half… but still won the game.
• Warren Wiersbe says, “The contestant does not cease to be a citizen of the land, but he forfeits the honor of winning a prize.”
• “ascetic practices” – Legalism of the Law.
• Ascetic - practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline (an ascetic monk or an ascetic diet).
• An ascetic practices rigorous self-denial and even self-mortification in order to become more spiritual.
• The ascetic hopes to sanctify the soul by his discipline of the body, and it is this heresy that Paul attacked.[18]
• “worship of angels” – we only need Christ.

19 He doesn’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with growth from God.

• “head” - the use of this metaphor shows Christ’s superiority over the law or human traditions.[19]
• The Christian is to be energized and empowered by Christ the head so that genuine spiritual growth can take place.[20]


• In Colossae, don’t allow people to place a yoke/restriction upon you.
• In Corinth, they were saying that “we are free in Christ, we can do whatever we want.”
• In our church culture today, the legalism is not about food restrictions or days of worship.
• It plays out in what the “service time” looks like.
• Our church culture judges us based upon where we attend, what we wear, what traditions we practice, what translation we use, what we sing, what style we sing, who we align with and how we interpret the Scripture.

 

• Leavener – everything we can do to break down each of these non-essential thoughts about doing church in this culture.
• There are two extreme sides, the Colossae side and the Corinth side.
• You are free to do that, but there is a great reward that you are missing out on.
• And in all honesty, you cause consequences upon those who are in your community… because we are identifying with each other.
• At Leavener, we choose to identify with each other by hanging out together… no bumper stickers.
• Because of our hanging out together, we get tagged in our culture with what everyone is sewing in our community.
• “Oh, you are one of those Leavenerites!”
• If you hang out here with me at the pub… you get tagged with, “Oh, you go to church at a bar!”
• I take on very few battles anymore about this type of judgment because I understand the only judge I have is Christ alone.
• As a shepherd of this flock, I am used to protect, but I trust that Christ is our center.
• The more I trust Christ, the less I have to protect.

20 If you died with Christ to the elements of this world, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations: 21 “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch”?

• “Don’t handle, don’t taste, don’t touch” - slogans from the false teachers
• The problem at Colossae was the people willingly embraced a system of thought contrary to Christianity.
• The system was enslaving.[21]

22 All these regulations refer to what is destined to perish by being used up; they are human commands and doctrines. 23 Although these have a reputation for wisdom by promoting self-made religion, false humility, and severe treatment of the body, they are not of any value in curbing self-indulgence.[22]

• The people who practice asceticism have a “reputation” for spirituality, but the product does not live up to the promotion.[23]
• 1 Cor 10:23 where Paul cited a slogan from the libertine party in Corinth: “All things are lawful” (NASB). They realized their Christian freedoms and flaunted them before other Christians.
• Again, Paul agreed with the truthfulness of their position, but modified it.
• He agreed as a general reference point that “all things are lawful.” He modified their position, however, by saying that “not everything is constructive.”[24]
• Paul is saying you are free to practice these legalisms because they seem practical and full of wisdom but they are definitely not going to help you understand the freedom that Christ intended for you to live in on a moment by moment basis.
• The power of Christ in the life of the believer does more than merely restrain the desires of the flesh: it puts new desires within him.
• He does not need law on the outside to control his appetites because he has life on the inside![25]

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:11). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Col 2:13). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[3] McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (p. 49). Leominster: Day One Publications.
[4] McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (p. 48). Leominster: Day One Publications.
[5] Geisler, N. L. (1985). Colossians. (J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck, Eds.)The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 678). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[6] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 263). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[7] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:11). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[8] Geisler, N. L. (1985). Colossians. (J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck, Eds.)The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 678). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[9] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:11). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[10] McNaughton, I. S. (2006). Opening up Colossians and Philemon. Opening Up Commentary (p. 49). Leominster: Day One Publications.
[11] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 266). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[12] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:16). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[13] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 268). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[14] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:16). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[15] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians,
colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 268). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[16] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:16). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[17] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:16). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[18] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:20). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[19] Barry, J. D., Grigoni, M. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Col 2:19). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.
[20] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 273). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[21] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 275). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[22] Christian Standard Bible (Col 2:12–2:23). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[23] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:20). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[24] Melick, R. R. (1991). Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. The New American Commentary (Vol. 32, p. 276). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[25] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Col 2:20). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Crisis in Colosse

• The church in Colosse is having problems.
• Some of the believers are not getting along and are mistreating one another.
• Still worse, false teachers have come into the church and are subverting the gospel of grace.
• They are introducing a bizarre form of Jewish legalism mixed with a counterfeit spirituality.
• They are teaching the Colossians the following: In order to experience God’s “fullness,” you must observe the ceremonial laws of the OT.
• You must observe special “holy” days and eat only “clean” foods.
• You must also be circumcised.
• Union with God is evidenced by mystical visions and angelic visitations.
• What you handle, taste, and/or touch can either help or harm your union with God.
• If you handle, taste, or touch that which is “unclean,” you will lose your union with God and will never experience His fullness.
• The false teaching has also spread to the church in Laodicea.
• Epaphras, the founder of the Colossian and Laodicean churches, is troubled by this spiritual assault.
• So he sails to Rome to get advice from Paul.

 

• At the same time, Onesimus (Philemon’s slave) runs away. But he does not run away empty-handed. He steals money from Philemon! (This is a capital offense.)
• Epaphras finds Onesimus and takes him to Rome with him, believing that Paul can help him.
• Onesimus is not a Christian, but he remembers Paul to be a kind man and believes that he will help him.
• On his way to Rome to visit Paul, Epaphras (also called Epaphroditus) stops at Philippi to visit the church there.
• The church in Philippi is greatly encouraged by Epaphras, and it sends him off to Rome with a small fortune as a love offering for Paul.
• This is the fourth time the church in Philippi has helped Paul monetarily. The Philippians are deeply concerned for Paul and ask Epaphras to let them know how he is doing.

 

• Epaphras and Onesimus continue toward Rome, but Epaphras becomes deathly ill on the way.
• Yet despite his illness, Epaphras persists on to Rome for the Lord’s sake.
• Onesimus has a message sent to the church in Philippi, letting them know of Epaphras’ sickness and requesting prayer for him.
• When Epaphras arrives in Rome, he hands Paul the financial gift. He informs Paul of the love the Philippians have for him and gives him an update on their progress.
• He also tells him about the church in Colosse.
• Epaphras joyfully tells him of the love the Colossian believers have for one another.
• But he also gives Paul a full report of the problems that the churches in Colosse, Laodicea, and Philippi are having.
• He also lets him know that Archippus—the son of Philemon and Apphia—is deeply discouraged and has stopped ministering to the church in Colosse and Laodicea like he once did.
• Upon hearing all the bad news, Paul struggles in prayer for the church in Colosse as well as for the churches in Laodicea and Philippi.
• Onesimus is with Epaphras, and Paul leads him to Christ.
• Onesimus turns out to be a real servant to Paul, and Paul grows to depend on him.
• When the church in Philippi gets word of Epaphras’ sickness, they write Paul a letter inquiring about Epaphras’ health.
• Paul will now write three letters, and he will dictate them all to Timothy to scribe.
• Paul will send all three letters by the hand of Tychicus.
• He instructs Tychicus to encourage the churches and give them an update on his (Paul’s) prison situation.
• Onesimus will return to Colosse with Tychicus and a letter that Paul will write to Philemon.
• The letters Paul writes at the same time (61 AD) are Colossians, Philemon & Ephesians.

 
COLOSSIANS
GREETING

• Do the heavenly bodies have any influence over our lives? The millions of people who consult their horoscopes each day would say, “Yes!”
• At one point, in the United States, there were about 1,750 daily newspapers, and 1,220 of them carried astrological data!
• Is there any relationship between diet and spiritual living?
• Does God speak to us immediately, in our minds, or only through His Word, the Bible?
• Do the Eastern religions have something to offer the evangelical Christian?
• These are contemporary questions and issues that Paul was dealing with in 61 AD.
• It was a combination of Eastern philosophy and Jewish legalism, with elements of what Bible scholars call gnosticism (NOS-ti-cism).
• This term comes from the Greek word gnosis (KNOW-sis) which means “to know.” (An agnostic is one who does not know.)
• The gnostics were the people who were “in the know” when it came to the deep things of God.
• They were the “spiritual aristocracy” in the church.
• The emphasis in Ephesians is on the church, the body of Christ; but the emphasis in Colossians is on Christ, the Head of the body.[1]
• It is not much different today.
• They were dealing with different agendas of the times and all Paul wanted to focus on was Jesus.
• Jesus was Paul’s only agenda.
• It becomes a trust factor that the Spirit will deal with the agendas rather than ourselves.
• What we know… and believe… impacts how we behave.
• So we will continue to teach Jesus here at Leavener.

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will, and Timothy our brother:

• Paul later mentions that he is the writer of this letter but he is claiming Timothy’s spiritual authority as well here.

2 To the saints in Christ at Colossae, who are faithful brothers and sisters.

• The city is never named in the Book of Acts because Paul did not start the Colossian church, nor did he ever visit it.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
 
THANKSGIVING
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints 5 because of the hope reserved for you in heaven. You have already heard about this hope in the word of truth (it can be trusted), the gospel 6 that has come to you. It is bearing fruit and growing all over the world, just as it has among you since the day you heard it and came to truly appreciate God’s grace.

• All over the world there is not much that is the same… shelter, food, clothing, education, etc.
• But God’s grace is the same no matter where in the world.
• Grace has been made available for the whole world!

7 You learned this from Epaphras, our dearly loved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf, 8 and he has told us about your love in the Spirit.

• Faith, hope & love… the greatest of these is “love”
• When you recall that Paul wrote this letter in prison, his attitude of thanksgiving is even more wonderful.

 
PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
9 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled (you are complete) with the knowledge of his will (to walk by the Spirit) in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, (comes from God) 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: (we understand from the Spirit… then we walk) bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, so that you may have great endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the saints’ inheritance in the light.

• The moment you believed in Jesus, you were given everything you ever needed.
• You don’t have to keep updating it. You have it all right now!
• I have a smartphone… It is called a smartphone for a reason. It doesn’t make me smart.
• What if all I used it for was calling people.
• I’d be missing out on what I have been given.
• I don’t need a new phone… I just need to understand and use what I have.
• You’ve been given this powerful gift that produces all these things mentioned. You just have to use the gift.

13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

• Jesus didn’t rescue us from bondage to have us wander aimlessly.
• He freed us and gave us a Spirit to follow.

 
THE CENTRALITY OF CHRIST
15 He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn (not time but rank) over all creation.
16 For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities--
all things have been created through him and for him.

•  For centuries, the Greek philosophers had taught that everything needed a primary cause, an instrumental cause, and a final cause.
• The primary cause is the plan, the instrumental cause the power, and the final cause the purpose.
• When it comes to Creation, Jesus Christ is the primary cause (He planned it), the instrumental cause (He produced it), and the final cause (He did it for His own pleasure).[2]

17 He is before all things,
and by him all things hold together.
18 He is also the head of the body, the church;
he is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that he might come to have
first place in everything.

• The church had its origin in Him, and today it has its operation in Him.[3]

19 For God was pleased to have
all his fullness dwell in him,
20 and through him to reconcile
everything to himself,
whether things on earth or things in heaven,

• What is to be reconciled in heaven?
• Revelation 12:10 - Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say, The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been thrown down. [4]

by making peace
through his blood, shed on the cross.
21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death,  to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him--23 if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become a servant of it.[5]

• Quit going back to your flesh (patterns) and realize the transformation that has already occurred.
• Paull will remind them over and over what they have been taught as the Good News.
• They are constantly being told something different.

[1] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 104). Victor Books.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 116). Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, pp. 116–117). Victor Books.
[4] Christian Standard Bible (Re 12:10). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.
[5] Christian Standard Bible (Col 1:1–23). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.

Coming!